“Star Trek: Picard” is at least a partial family reunion for the cast and characters of the 1987-1994 sci-fi drama “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
The much-anticipated series, premiering Thursday on CBS All Access, checks in on the post-retirement life of former Admiral Jean-Luc Picard — once again played by Sir Patrick Stewart, 79. When a scared stranger on the run seeks help from a downtrodden Picard, who left Starfleet 14 years prior under troublesome circumstances, the former captain of the USS Enterprise is stonewalled when he seeks support from the new leadership of Starfleet. He winds up looking for assistance from some new associates who have their own axes to grind, as well as several of his former starship colleagues, who will be quite familiar to nostalgic Trekkies.
The show, which will have a 10-episode first season and was already renewed for a second, takes the franchise where no fan has gone before: into the mind of a normally in-control but now spiraling 94-year-old Picard. And while Stewart himself has said “we don’t see everyone” return from the first series, according to Digital Spy, viewers will get a peek into the post-Enterprise lives of several “Next Generation” characters, who have not been seen since the last film installment, 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis.” (And, yes, the assimilating alien race The Borg will have a presence.)
One former cast member who won’t initially be in “Picard” but has been tapped for other Starfleet duty is Wil Wheaton, who played young officer Wesley Crusher in “The Next Generation.” He will host “The Ready Room,” a weekly, post-episode talk show that will offer a “deep dive” into the latest happenings on the series.
Here’s a look at some of the returning characters from the original series, as well as new ones shaking up Picard’s universe.
Jean-Luc Picard: Yes, fans will hear Stewart’s Picard utter his classic command — “Engage!” — and he still enjoys a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea. Just don’t expect many more familiar traits since he vacated his chair on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. His legacy is tarnished and he’s wracked with anger towards Starfleet, which abandoned a rescue mission to save Romulans before their home planet was destroyed by a supernova. But he has a dog, aptly named No. 1, to keep him company.
Data: The android Starfleet officer, played by Brent Spiner, was killed off in “Nemesis,” but he returns to haunt Picard in his dreams — and in the form of his dismantled android “brother,” B-4.
Seven of Nine: Played by Jeri Ryan in the 1995-2001 series “Star Trek: Voyager,” she — like Picard — is a former captive of the Borg collective. The character never actually appeared in “The Next Generation,” but that show and “Voyager” existed in the same timeline. And, it turns out, Seven has some animosities toward Picard that will be explored this season.
William Riker: Picard’s former first officer, whom he affectionately called “No. 1,” is again portrayed by Jonathan Frakes, who is also directing some “Picard” episodes, as well as installments of the CBS All Access series “Star Trek: Discovery.”
Deanna Troi: The ship’s alien counselor, played by Marina Sirtis, is still married to former first officer Riker and offers her empathic support to Picard.
Hugh: Former “The Closer” and “Major Crimes” star Jonathan Del Arco returns as the de-assimilated Borg drone he portrayed in two episodes of “The Next Generation.”
Dahj: Former “Hamilton” star Isa Briones plays the new character, a mysterious young woman who locates Picard at his family’s vineyard in France and drags him into an interstellar adventure that Picard may not be prepared for.
Dr. Agnes Jurati: Alison Pill (“American Horror Story,” “The Newsroom”) plays a doctor known for her work with synthetic humanoids like Data. All “synths” were banned from existence after several rogue androids plotted to stop then-Admiral Picard’s Romulan rescue efforts.
Raffi Musiker: A former intelligence officer, portrayed by Michelle Hurd (“Blindspot”), the new character is hesitant to help Picard, who she feels betrayed and abandoned her after she was forced out of Starfleet.
Cristóbal Rios: Santiago Cabrera (“Big Little Lies”) plays Raffi’s associate, an ex-Starfleet officer and renegade pilot who Picard enlists to help him hop around the cosmos.
Narek and Elnor: Narek, a Romulan agent played by Harry Treadaway (“The Crown,” “Penny Dreadful”), and Elnor, a Romulan refugee portrayed by Evan Evagora (“Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island”), also join Picard’s new crew.
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